IEUAN Wyn Jones yesterday tried to draw a line under Labour’s damaging personal attacks on him which threatened to tear the coalition apart last week.

But the Deputy First Minister insisted he and Carwyn Jones had not held “clear- the-air talks” following the anonymous briefings claiming that the Plaid Cymru leader was the coalition’s “weak link” and lacked the support of business.

Last week sources claimed Ieuan Wyn Jones had alienated the business community through his incompetence and lack of responsiveness to their concerns. Mr Jones then appeared to blame his predecessor, Labour’s Andrew Davies, claiming the department he took over in 2007 was “out of control… with no leadership, no financial management and no direction”.

Yesterday, in his first press briefing since the row erupted, Mr Jones confirmed he had discussed the issue with the First Minister.

“I think we’ve both now made our position very clear,” he said.

“Carwyn and I have clarified the issues as far as the Government is concerned, and we both agree now that we have a key campaign ahead of us, which is the referendum, which will be our immediate priority, and then obviously we’ll be working together in government.

“But clearly now is not the time for us to be looking at other matters. We should be concentrating as a government as we’ve both agreed.”

The pair had not held so-called “clear-the-air talks”, said Mr Jones in response to a question.

“No, I don’t think that was necessary with the First Minister, to be honest,” he said.

“I think whatever has happened has happened, we’ve made our positions clear and we’re determined to focus on those areas now that we know are important to us, which is the referendum and making sure that we see the end of the Government in a timely fashion.

“When we make a decision about how we fight the election I think everybody will be aware. And I think it’s important in a coalition that is managed in the best possible way.”

The Deputy First Minister said he was content the briefing had been sanctioned by neither the First Minister nor senior staff at Labour’s Transport House headquarters.